Takehiro Donoue worked out at Nagoya Stadium today, the day after his wedding ceremony. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/10/2012

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Shinji Tajima will begin his workouts in Tottori (World Wing Gym) with Masahiro Yamamoto on January 6. He also plans to spend some time with Hitoki Iwase (Iwase spends some time at the same gym). Source: Nikkan Sports 12/10/2012, Sponichi 12/10/2012

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The Dragons are looking for women (eighteen and older) interested in trying out for the 2013 Cheer Dragons cheer-leading team. Source: official announcement

Yakult Swallows

Orlando Roman got a 35 million raise and will make 60 million plus incentives next season. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/10/2012

Hayato Sakamoto and Chono apparently plan to continue working out with Shinnosuke Abe every winter until he retires. Abe originally wanted the two to start their own group once they got 100 million yen contracts, since he wants to help younger players with lower salaries (he pays for all expenses). Sakamoto and Chono now make well over 100 million yen and continue to tag along. They no longer get a free ride and they also pay the cost of one staff member each.

Incidentally, Abe took on the tradition from Daisuke Motoki and hopes Sakamoto and Chono will keep the tradition going.

Minoru Iwata plans to work out on his own during the winter. He also plans to stay away from his alma mater, Osaka Toin High School, since 1st round draft pick Shinataro Fujinami is currently there and drawing a fairly big media crowd. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/10/2012

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Shunsuke Fujikawa on when he might change his registered name to Fujikawa: "I will not change it this year. I do not want people to think I changed it because Kyuji left, things are set as is. But I might change it after a few years, after I have played well." Source: Sanspo 12/10/2012

Shunsuke will be making changes to his bat: it will weigh a little more (from 900 grams to 920 grams) and will have a Ty Cobb type bat handle. Source: Daily Sports 12/10/2012

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Takahiro Arai on this past season and his thoughts moving forward, via Daily Sports:

"More than playing against the opposition, this was a year where I fought against the pain in my shoulder. I was able to get away with things early on, but over time, that stopped working. I think it was around May. When I dove on defense, I felt something bad happened. I could not throw and I could not hit... It hurt when I held a bat. I hurt when I swung the bat and it hurt when I started swinging the bat. It was a lot of stress, trying to swing the bat in a way that did not hurt."

"There was quite a bit of pain. At worst, I was prepared to go under the knife. But my doctor said surgery was not necessary. I felt relieved. I withstood the pain for a long time, so this could not be handled by ordinary methods. I was told to take my training day-by-day. I was told that it would not easily go away in one or two months."

"I currently do not have a time frame. I would like to get myself back to where I can do things without pain by the time spring camp begins on February 1. Once camp begins, I would like to do the same things the other players do, like extra batting practice, extra fielding practice. That is why I am rehabbing. I still cannot push myself hard on free weights, but I am doing the little things like trunk exercises and shoulder strengthening exercises. I can hit. I have gotten to a point where I can swing the bat pretty well. I want to get my throwing back to a good level."

"I do not really care where I bat in the line-up. But Kanemoto, Jojima, and Fujikawa are gone so I honestly feel like I really need to step up next year. I can feel confident if my shoulder if feeling fine. That is how I feel right now."

Kenta Maeda and his wife held a wedding ceremony for over 150 people (mostly teammates and people from Hiroshima) at a hotel in Hiroshima on Sunday. The two also held a ceremony in Tokyo earlier this month on the 1st. The two will head overseas for their honeymoon later this month.

Maeda is also planning to begin his workouts next year in Hawaii on January 10. It will be the first time he trains outside of Japan.